MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1413, 26 August 1878, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Monday, August 23, [Before G. L. Hellish, Esq., R.M.] Drunkenness.— Catherine McDonald, alias Sullivan, an old offender, was sent to gaol for twelve months. She was very violent in Court. Breach of the Peace. —SamuelDobbinson and Henry J. Burrows were charged with a breach of the peace in Oxford terrace. The offence was proved, and they were fined 20s each. Larceny. —Matthew Longden was charged with stealing a spade and shovel, of the value of 16s, the property of John Smith. The prosecutor deposed that he had lent a spade and shovel to prisoner about a fortnight ago. On Saturday, when asked to return them, prisoner said he had left them at his mother-in-law’s, Witness went for them, but could not find them. Subsequently prisoner told witness that he would return them at six o’clock on Saturday, At that hour prisoner offered him a pawn ticket for the articles. Witness went to Alexander’s pawn office in Manchester street, and was told that they were there. Henry Alexander, pawn broker, deposed to having lent 4s to prisoner on the spade and shovel. Prisoner said they were his own property. To prisoner—You did not appear to be drnnk when you pawned the things. Detective Walker had arrested the prisoner, who, when charged, said it was no larceny, only a loan. Prisoner had the pawn ticket produced. Prisoner said he had been awfully drunk, and knew nothing about the business. A long list of previous convictions was handed to the Bench by Inspector Hickson. He was sent to prison for a month, with hard labor. Failing to Support. —George Groves was charged with tailing to support his son in the industrial School. He did not appear. Evidence was given to show that defendant had land at Timaru, and was able to pay. An order was made for the payment of 7s fid a week. James Johnston was similarly charged. Evidence was given that an order for 15s a week had been previously made against defendant, and that when his wife had come to visit the children in the school she was dressed in velvet. He did not appear, and a warrant for his arrest was ordered to be issued. Furious Riding. —Stephen Rodder and William Hart, for furious riding, were fined 10s each. Cattle Trespass. —A. McKendry was fined ss. Thomas Hazard was fined the like amount, as was also Thomas Grant. Neglecting Horses. Thomas Harris Parsons, for carelessly allowing his horse to bolt, was fined 10s. Frederick Stevens was charged with letting his horse bolt. He pleaded-that the bridle by which the animal had been fastened had broken, and was discharged. Fighting in the Street. —Arthur Storey, Thomas Kerr, and Richard Hawkins were charged with fighting at the High street cab stand. Richard Hawkins was further charged with using abusive language. The evidence showed that Storey and Hawkins had wanted to hire a cab from Kerr who would not take them because one was drunk. They endeavoured to compel him and the fight, and bad language were the consequence. Kerr was dismissed ; the other two were fined 40s each, and ordered to pay 15s each for the expense of witnesses. Unregistered Dog. —Thomas West was fined 20s for having an unreSisterod dog, Crossing a Footpath. —Branston Unwin was charged with damaging a footpath by crossing it with his cart and horse, and fined 10a, Assault and Abuse. —William Atkinson was charged with violently assaulting Thomas Kaye. There was a cross information for abusive language in which the parties occupied different positions. Mr Slater appeared for Atkinson and Mr H. H. Loughnan for Kaye. The parties live at Yaldhurst. Thomas Kay© deposed to the details of the assault, which occurred about the midnight on the 15th or 16th August at Yaldhurst. Atkinson accused witness of being one of a gang who had made an information against him. Witness was with a party who had been to an entertainment in Christchurch, and some of the party were not sober though witness was. William Atkinson, publican of Yaldhurst,, deposed that Kaye had at his house ©ailed him a liar. Witness threatened to put him out, when Kaye threw a piece of beef into witness's face. Witness then put him out. He (witness) was quite sober. Ho might have had two or three glasses. He did not begin the altercation. A goed deal of evidence having been taken, the cases were dismissed. Incendiarism. —John Reynolds, on remind, was charged with setting fire to the

house of Mary Ann White, of Courtenay. The case had been principally heard last week. The following additional evidence was now taken : —Detective Benjamin deposed —There are two gates to the garden. The tracks of footsteps previously mentioned did not lead to either of these. Inside the garden and at about a chain from the gate behind the kitchen is a water closet, and behind the stable is another closet; the tracks did not lead to either of these. Detective Walker deposed that he had drawn to scale the plan of Mrs White’s building. The premises and the place where the fire had been, as shown to witness, were correctly represented. The marks of footsteps in the garden were also correctly represented. Witness explained details of the plan. John Reynolds was also charged, on remand, with setting fire to the premises of Matthew Q-uy. This case had been chiefly heard last week. The following additional evidence was taken : —Thomas Q-uy deposed that the wheat which had been destroyed had been insured in the New Zealand Insurance Office for £275. The barn was not insured. Edward Lewis deposed. The fire had been shoved under the floor from outside. There was no sign of fire outside the building. I went with Detective Benjamin to the barn, and saw him take the boards produced, which had formed part of the floor. [These were completely charred on the lower surface and but slightly marked in a few places on the upper surface.] I account for the side of the building having holes burnt in it from the fact of the floor having been burnt through, and the flames afterwards being driven through the wall from inside. The fire could not have been caused from the stable. The partition between the barn and stable was, I think, boarded to the ground. A match, carelessly thrown down, could not have caused the fire. Detective Benjamin deposed—l have made another examination of the building in which the fire occurred. *1 found the flooring bbards, which had not been comipletely burned, were charred underneath, and not much injured on the upper surface. They are similar to the one produced. When arrested, prisoner had in his possession a box of matches, a piece of candles, and a tent swag. Detective Walker deposed to the correctness of the plan produced, which he had drawn. The depositions were now read over to the prisoner, who, after being duly cautioned, was asked what he had to say. He said he had got some matches on the day he was arrested. He was committed to take his trial on both charges.

LYTTELTON. Monday, August 26. [Before W. Donald, Esq., R.M.] Assault. —George Sheppard was charged with having assaulted Samuel Reeve, at Gebbie’s Valley, on August 18th. Mr H. N. Nalder appeared for complainant. It appeared from the evidence that on Sunday, the 18th, Sheppard charged Reeves with stealing some eggs, as he was driving some cows with his brother on the road, and afterwards violently assaulted him,. The Bench dismissed the case. Charges brought by Sheppard against Alfred Samuel Reeves, for using threatening language, were also dismissed, the Bench stating that they were most contemptible cases of neighbours’ quarrels, and ought never to have been brought into Court.

Cattle Trespass. —Herbert Armitage, for having two head astray, was fined 5s and costs Is, and Samuel Hall, for having one cow astray, was fined a similar sum. Civil Cask.— Lyttelton Gas Company v. E. Wisbey, claim £3 5s 6d ; Mr. H. N. Nalder for plaintiffs ; judgment for amount and costs 9s.